Why It Happens and How to Take Back Control

Laura SHAMMAH MS, RDN

Have you ever found yourself constantly thinking about food? You’ve just eaten, but your mind keeps wondering: What else could I eat? Why did I eat that? Is that healthy? Is that fattening? Will it make me lose? Will it make me gain? What should I have for dinner tomorrow? If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing what’s known as “food noise.” This term is gaining increasing attention, especially in discussions about weight loss, partly due to the rise of GLP-1 medications. What exactly is food noise, what causes it, and how can you quiet the constant chatter in your head? Let’s take a closer look.

What Is Food Noise?
Food noise refers to the ongoing, often intrusive thoughts about food. It can manifest as a constant mental soundtrack of questions and concerns like, What should I eat next? How much is too much? Is this the right food for me? These thoughts are more than just occasional contemplations; they can become overwhelming and affect your relationship with food.
Food noise doesn’t just lead to mental stress—it can also contribute to overeating, choosing the wrong foods, or feeling guilty after eating. Common signs of food noise include:

• Obsessing over when, what, or how much to eat
• Constantly thinking about your next meal during the one you’re currently having
• Comparing “good” foods to “bad” ones
• Feeling guilty after eating certain foods
• Over-analyzing calories or portion sizes
  It’s important to distinguish food noise from normal hunger cues. While hunger signals are your body’s natural way of telling you it needs nourishment, food noise is often driven by external pressures, societal influences, or underlying emotional factors.

Who Does Food Noise Affect?
While anyone can experience food noise, certain groups may be more susceptible. People struggling with weight loss, those in high-stress environments, teenagers, and athletes can often experience heightened food noise.
Additionally, individuals with eating disorders, such as emotional or binge eating, may be particularly vulnerable. Food noise can significantly impact their mental well-being, leading to unhealthy eating patterns and a distorted relationship with food.
It’s important to note that food noise exists on a spectrum. For some people, it may be a minor nuisance, but for others, it can become an all-consuming obsession that makes it difficult to make positive changes in their diet or lifestyle.

What Causes Food Noise?
Food noise comes from both biology and society. Our ancestors had to focus on food to survive, so our brains may still be wired to constantly think about it. Modern life also plays a role. Food is everywhere, and pressure to eat a certain way or look a certain way can make food thoughts louder. Social media, ads, and diet culture can add to this, making us think more about what, when, and how much to eat.

How to Quiet Food Noise
If food noise is making your life more stressful than it needs to be, there are several strategies that can help bring some peace to your mind. Here are a few approaches experts recommend:

Practice Mindfulness –
Work with a Therapist
One of the most effective ways to quiet food noise is through mindfulness. Journaling your thoughts can help you recognize patterns or triggers. For instance, you might notice that food noise spikes in the evening or during stressful moments. Understanding these triggers can be a key first step in managing them. Working with a therapist can help you realize your patterns and create new healthy, positive behaviors and thoughts.

Introduce Alternative Behaviors
When food noise feels overwhelming, try redirecting your focus. Physical activity, such as taking a walk or doing yoga, can help distract from obsessive thoughts about food. Meditation or deep breathing exercises can also reduce the mental chatter that often accompanies food noise.

Prioritize Balanced Nutrition
Eating regular meals that include protein, fiber, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help keep hunger at bay and stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing the frequency of food noise. Regular hydration and balanced snacks are also crucial for maintaining a steady mental and physical state.

Work with a Registered Dietitian
If you find that food noise is interfering with your overall health or weight loss journey, consider working with a registered dietitian who specializes in emotional eating. A dietitian can help identify any unhealthy food habits and guide you in creating sustainable, long-term changes. With their help, you can learn how to build a healthy relationship with food and break free from the cycle of obsessive food thoughts.

Consider Medication or Supplements
For some individuals, weight loss medications like GLP-1s (such as Ozempic) or oral pills like Contrave can help reduce food noise. These medications work by curbing cravings, slowing digestion, and reducing the intrusive thoughts that can dominate your mind. While they can be effective, they should always be used under the guidance of a knowledgeable healthcare professional, as treatments must be individualized and monitored. These medications are tools to help navigate and stick to a healthy lifestyle. Medication may not be for everyone, but everyone needs to find what I say is their right cocktail—what will help them get a healthy mind and body. For many, they find that coming to see me and a therapist gives them their balance. For some, it’s medications with all of the above. If you find your thoughts are taking over your life, don’t stop until you can find out what cocktail is right for you.
Food noise can be relentless, creeping into your thoughts and influencing your relationship with food—especially during times of stress, weight loss, or disordered eating. But understanding its roots and learning how to quiet the mental chatter can be truly empowering. With the right strategies—whether through mindfulness, lifestyle shifts, or professional guidance—you can regain control, silence the noise, and foster a healthier, more balanced connection with food.

Laura Shammah MS, RDN specializes in eating disorders but has clientele that run the gamut from people dealing with PCOS, infertility hypertension, high cholesterol, Crohn’s disease, diabetes and cancer. She also helps clients who run in marathons, are pregnant and those who would like to lose or gain weight in a healthy way.

Exposing Common Myths About Mental Health

Paulette Didia, Psy.D.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet so many misconceptions surround it—especially when it comes to therapy. Some believe therapy is only for people in crisis, while others think it is simply “talking about feelings” with no real benefit. Believing these myths can prevent people from seeking the help they need. Whether you’re considering therapy for the first time or just want to challenge outdated beliefs, it’s time to set the record straight!
Myth: Going to therapy means I am weak.
Fact: Therapy is a courageous step toward self-improvement. Seeking therapy is not a sign of weakness; it’s an act of strength. It takes courage to acknowledge that you need support and to take proactive steps to improve your mental health.
Myth: I don’t need therapy. Things are going pretty well.
Fact: Things may be going well, but could they be even better? You might have a good job, a supportive spouse, and happy kids, but therapy can help you explore how to make life even more fulfilling. One common barrier to seeking therapy is a lack of self-awareness—we often get in our own way without realizing it.
Myth: Therapy is just a stranger telling me what to do.
Fact: Therapy is not about giving advice or telling you what to do. Therapy does not impose decisions on you—it empowers you to explore all your options and make the best choices for yourself.
Myth: Seeking therapy means I am questioning my relationship with Hashem.
Fact: Therapy and Torah are not mutually exclusive. Having emunah (faith) and trusting in Hashem does not mean ignoring one’s mental health. Bitachon (trust in Hashem) encourages us to take action to improve our lives. The pursuit of mental health is an extension of taking care of the whole person—body, mind, and soul—and can ultimately strengthen one’s connection to Hashem.
Myth: A therapist will share everything I say if they know my family.
Fact: Confidentiality is a fundamental part of therapy. Breaches in confidentiality are not only unethical but also illegal. Therapists are bound by strict laws that prevent them from revealing anything you discuss in a session. Even when working with children, the therapist’s role is to collaborate with parents to help the child, not to disclose everything shared in therapy.
Myth: Going to therapy will affect my marriage prospects.
Fact: Therapy doesn’t have to affect your reputation. Improving your mental health can actually make you more emotionally available, self-aware, and better equipped for healthy relationships.
Myth: Couples or pre-marital therapy will create more problems and ultimately lead to divorce.
Fact: Therapy can help couples at any stage of the relationship by improving communication, fostering understanding, and addressing underlying issues before they escalate. It provides tools for resolving conflicts in a healthy way and can strengthen the foundation of a relationship, ultimately reducing the risk of divorce.
Myth: If you’re struggling emotionally, you should just turn to family, friends or rabbis instead of seeking a professional therapist.
Fact: Family and community support are valuable, but they are not substitutes for professional therapy. Therapists provide specific tools and mental health expertise that family and friends may not be able to offer. Just as one wouldn’t ask their mechanic to perform their open-heart surgery, therapy offers a specialized skill set for mental health challenges that others may not be equipped to give.
Myth: After a few therapy sessions, all my child’s issues will be permanently resolved, and they won’t need therapy again.
Fact: Therapy is a gradual process of growth. Just as our children’s physical needs change over time, so do their emotional needs. Therapy can help both children and adults navigate new life stages and their stressors.
Myth: I don’t want my child medicated.
Fact: Medication is not always the first solution. Therapists use various methods to help individuals, and medication is only one option. Ultimately, medication is your choice, not a prescription from the therapist.
Myth: I can manage the whole summer living with my in-laws and their comments of how I should be raising my kids.
Fact: Therapy can help you navigate difficult relationships. Living with family can be challenging, especially when dealing with unsolicited advice. Therapy helps you manage stress and build healthier ways to cope with challenging family dynamics, including setting boundaries.
Challenging these common myths about therapy is the first step toward taking charge of your mental health and well- being. Therapy isn’t something to fear or avoid—it’s a powerful tool that can improve your emotional resilience, relationships, and overall quality of life. Whether you’re working through a specific challenge or simply looking to enhance your well-being, therapy can provide the support and guidance you need, without compromising any of your religious beliefs or values.

Dr. Paulette Didia is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Making Meaning Psychology, a new private practice dedicated to breaking the stigma of therapy within our community. We work with individuals of all ages, couples, and families to help navigate life’s challenges, big or small, with care. If you are ready to explore how therapy can work for you, reach out today to schedule a free consultation.

Hillary Goldberg

For thousands of years, through exile and destruction, pogroms, gas chambers and war, one truth has remained unshaken: The Jewish people survive because of the Jewish woman.

If you want to understand why the Jewish people are still here, you have to understand her. She is the first to carry, the first to fight, the first to suffer, and the first to rise. She is the mother who whispers Shema into the ears of her sleeping child. She is the grandmother who lights Shabbat candles in defiance of history. She is the daughter who carries the weight of generations and refuses to let it break her. She is the truth teller who will not let history be rewritten, who refuses to let the world forget.
She is the girl in the attic, the woman in the desert, the warrior standing before kings, and the mother clutching her babies as they are ripped from her arms. She is the reason we are still here. For thousands of years, through exile and destruction, through pogroms and gas chambers, through war and terror, one truth has remained unshaken. Every time the Jewish people survive, it is because of the Jewish woman.
October 7th was the day the world stopped listening. We watched Jewish history repeat itself in real time. Broadcast on GoPro cameras for the world to see—still, they denied it. We saw mothers shielding their children, grandmothers taken hostage, and daughters dragged into Gaza. We heard screaming, crying—then the silence of the world. We watched as people debated our pain, as crowds marched, not for the women who were stolen, but for those who took them. We saw our sisters, our mothers, our daughters held captive underground. When we begged the world to look, they told us to be quiet.
But Jewish women have never been quiet. We have never been the ones who sit back and wait to be saved. We carry our people. We fight, even when we should not have to. We suffer first, but we are also the first to rise. This is not poetry. This is history.
From the beginning, it has always been this way. For thousands of years, Jewish women have carried our people forward. They have fought for our survival—not with weapons, but with their bodies, their voices, and their unshakable faith. They have given life when the world tried to take it. They have preserved history when others tried to erase it. They have stood in the face of destruction and refused to bow.
She is Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, the women who built a people. She is Miriam, standing at the water’s edge, ensuring that Moses would live to lead. She is Esther, standing before a king and defying an empire. She is Golda, leading a nation through war, standing in a room full of men who doubted her, refusing to be ignored. She is Anne, writing her story so the world could never say it didn’t know. She is Hadas Kalderon, a grieving daughter who fought relentlessly to bring her children and then their father home. She is Noa Argamani, rescued in a miracle, only to return to a mother she could no longer save. She is Rachel Goldberg-Polin, who refused to stop speaking her son’s name until they had no choice but to listen. She is Shiri Bibas, holding her babies, never letting go.
She is every Jewish mother, every Jewish daughter, every Jewish woman who has carried this people forward, who has stood in the face of destruction and said, “Not this time. Not on my watch.”
For 504 days, we waited for a miracle. For 503 days, Ariel and Kfir waited for one, too. For 504 days, we clung to the hope that Shiri was still holding her children. For 503 days, we told ourselves that Ariel and Kfir were still in their mother’s arms, still alive, still waiting to come home. For 504 days, the world was silent. There was no miracle. There was no homecoming. There was only the unbearable truth. Shiri Bibas, her son Ariel, and her baby Kfir were murdered.
Not shot, not bombed, not lost in crossfire. They were murdered with bare hands. No war. No politics. No excuses. Just hatred so deep it could crush the breath from an infant. The world may have already moved on, but we will not.
Every Jewish mother is Shiri Bibas. Every Jewish mother who tucks her child in at night is holding them as tightly as she did. Every Jewish mother who watches their children walk out the door feels the terror she must have felt. Every Jewish mother who lights the Shabbat candles knows that the world has always tried to snuff us out. Every Jewish mother is still waiting for hostages to come home, knowing that far too many never will. Every Jewish mother will not let the world forget.
No one has ever been able to keep a Jewish woman quiet. The world has never truly understood the Jewish woman. They have seen glimpses—Sarah in the desert, Esther before the king, Anne in the attic, Golda at the helm of a nation, Rachel crying for Hersh, Shiri protecting her babies. But they do not know us. Because if they did, they would not ask us to move on. If they did, they would not expect us to bow our heads in grief and go silent.
If they did, they would understand that we have never broken before, and we will not break now. We rise from the ashes of pogroms, from the ruins of ghettos, from the voices of those who could not rise themselves. We rise from the Holocaust, from exile, from October 7th, from every attempt to erase us. We rise from grief, from fear, from history itself. We rise because we have no other choice. Because if we do not rise, who will?
Every Friday night, Jewish families rise and sing to the Jewish woman. They call her Eishet Chayil, a woman of valor. But do they truly understand who she is? She is not just the one who nurtures—she is the one who fights. She is not just the one who comforts—she is the one who builds. She is not just the one who remembers—she is the one who ensures the world does not forget.
She is you. And she will never stop. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. The Jewish woman has always been the one who saves us. And she will do it again.

Hillary Goldberg is a Councilwoman in Teaneck, NJ, a writer, and a leading Jewish advocate in New Jersey. Her writing has been featured in The Jerusalem Post, The Jewish Standard, The Times of Israel, and The Jewish Link. Passionate about the Jewish life experience, she engages in meaningful conversations on resilience, history, and the relevance of Jewish wisdom in today’s world.

Beyond Flourless Chocolate Cake

Elizabeth Kurtz

My Passover desserts are delicious. I always keep lots of chocolate around because it’s just a wonderful ingredient and perfect for Passover. We all have many recipes for great flourless chocolate cake so I put together a few other desserts that include lush chocolate but are not what everyone else is serving.

The chocolate walnut torte looks like a Tweed Torte, with puffed up meringue, nuts and chocolate all folded together. The blondie bars, rocky road bars, and brownie drop cookies are fantastic in your Passover repertoire, and won’t last long – they are that good. And the Orange Chocolate Lava Cakes are a terrific twist on traditional chocolate molten cake. Happy Passover cooking!

Chocolate Walnut Torte
Serves 10-12
This is a meringue torte so its light and filled with chocolate and walnuts. Its deceptively moist and speckled (kinda tweedy) and has no flour or egg yolks. It’s gluten free too. I like it with some whipped pareve (non-dairy) cream on top.
• 1 cup walnut pieces (or a full ½ cup of ground walnuts)
• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or use semi-sweet)
• Zest of 1 small orange, optional
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 7 egg whites
• ¼ teaspoon kosher for Passover cream of tartar, if available, or omit
• Pareve whipped cream for topping
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
In a food processor, pulse walnuts with 1 tablespoon of sugar until finely ground (alternatively you could use about ½ cup ground walnuts and mix with sugar). Take the nuts out of the food processor and place in separate bowl. Using the same processor, pulse the chopped chocolate with 1 tablespoon sugar, until chopped into pieces of varied sizes, from coarse meal, to ¼-inch bits. Add chocolate to nuts and then mix in orange zest (if using) and salt.
Using a mixer, beat egg whites with cream of tartar (if using) until creamy white and soft peaks are formed. Gradually add the remaining ½ cup sugar until egg whites are glossy and stiff, but not dry.
Pour half of the chocolate mixture over the egg whites and fold together. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture and fold until thoroughly combined but do not over-mix.
Scrape the batter into pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the torte is puffed and golden brown on top. With a tester a toothpick inserted in the center should come out moist and with some melted chocolate stuck to it.
Run a knife around sides of pan before releasing the springform. The cake can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored covered at room temperature or frozen, well wrapped for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator and serve at room temperature.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Blondie Bars
Makes 24 (2 inch square bars)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup neutral oil, plus extra for greasing pan
• 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar
• 3 ¼ cups ground almonds
• ¼ cup potato starch
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch pan. Press in a piece of parchment paper that is big enough to cover the bottom and sides of the pan. Grease the top and sides of the parchment. Set it aside.
Place the sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla sugar into a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add the ground almonds and potato starch and mix well. Add the chocolate chips and mix to distribute.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and use a spatula to spread it evenly.
Bake for 35 minutes or until the edges are brown, or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs on it. Let it cool. Lift out the parchment and then cut into squares or bars. Store at room temperature for up to five days or freeze up to three months.

Rocky Road Brownies
• 4 ounces chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup oil or margarine (use a neutral oil like grapeseed oil)
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup matza cake meal or potato starch
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Topping:
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup walnuts, chopped in little pieces
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.
In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt chopped chocolate and oil/margarine, until smooth, stirring so the chocolate does not burn. Stir in the sugar, turn off the heat and cool a little bit.
Whisk in the eggs one at a time. Stir in cake meal, salt and chocolate chips. Fold in marshmallows and walnuts.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 26 – 28 minutes, or until moist crumbs appear on a cake tester. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the marshmallows reserved for the topping. Bake for an additional 4 – 5 minutes or until marshmallows appear a little toasted and puffed up.
In a small saucepan, melt chocolate chips for the topping over low heat. Drizzle melted chocolate all over the brownies and then sprinkle with walnuts.
Cut into bars. These freeze well. Defrost in the refrigerator.

Brownie Drop Cookies
Rich and cake-like, just like a brownie, but also crunchy like a cookie. Use chunks of anything you like in these, from dark to semi-sweet chocolate or even white chips. Or use hand chopped chocolate which is meltier and luxurious. For perfectly moist, slightly gooey cookies, take the cookies out of the oven when they still seem a little soft to the touch, they will firm up as they cool. These are great year round!
• 4 tablespoons margarine, cut into chunks
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon potato starch
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup walnut or pecan pieces, toasted
• 6 ounces chocolate chunks or white chips or 1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease cookie sheets or line sheets with parchment paper.
Melt the margarine and bittersweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl over simmering water or melt in the microwave. Stir until melted and smooth. Stir in the sugar, salt and vanilla. Set aside and let cool for a few minutes. Add eggs one at a time and mix until incorporated.
In a small bowl, whisk potato starch and baking soda. Then add it to the chocolate mixture and stir until combined. Stir until smooth, glossy and the batter comes away from the sides of the bowl (this is important). Stir in the nuts and chopped chocolate or chips.
Scoop slightly rounded tablespoons of the batter and place 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes, until cookies are puffed and crackled on the surface but soft to the touch. Cool completely.

Orange Chocolate Lava Cakes
Super terrific twist on chocolate molten cakes.
Servings 4
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 4 tablespoons unsalted margarine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 whole egg, plus 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon potato starch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
Melt the chocolate, margarine and oil in a medium bowl in the microwave until completely melted, about 1 minute. Whisk the mixture until smooth. Stir in the orange zest and cool slightly.
Whisk the sugar, egg and yolk until pale in a medium bowl. Whisk in the melted chocolate mixture. Stir in the potato starch and vanilla until smooth. Divide the batter among four prepared muffin tins. Bake the cakes until just barely dry on top (they will be soft in the middle), about 12 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and cool, about 5 minutes.
Gently flip the cakes onto a plate. Sprinkle the cakes with sea salt and top with the orange supremes. Drizzle with a bit of oil.

Elizabeth Kurtz is the creator of gourmetkoshercooking.com and columnist for the Jerusalem Post, Aish.com, and other national magazines. She is a featured chef on videos for Recipe Box TV on aol.com and yahoo.com. She is passionate about food and entertaining and loves teaching cooking classes. Her first cookbook titled, CELEBRATE, food, family, shabbos is in stores now, on Amazon.com and “celebrates”, 200 original recipes easy enough for everyday and special enough for Shabbos or any holiday.

This Passover, break free from the ruthless hi-tech servitude

Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein

I’ve noticed that every new hi-tech contrivance, ostensibly meant to make our lives easier, instead seems to place yet another new demand on our rapidly declining available time. A case in point: my new smart phone. It’s a calculator, camcorder, digital camera, game console, global positioning satellite navigation system, internet surfer, mobile telephone, mp3 player and personal information manager (PIM). But mostly, it drops e-mail right into my pocket, so that I am available 24/6 to be contacted, queried, corresponded to, criticized and spammed.

Tethered as we are to the multiple leashes of work, relationships and social obligations, when are we supposed to catch our breath? Whatever happened to the notion of setting aside time to pay attention to our spiritual selves, our families and our friends? Where is self-actualization and fulfillment supposed to fit in?
I got the answer when my adult son was rushed to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis. He’s a strapping 6 feet tall, and when he’s not studying Torah, he can more than hold his own on the basketball court. To see him doubled over, holding his belly in agony and writhing in pain was more than my wife and I could handle. As the emergency unfolded, my cell phone rang, flashed and vibrated merrily on, oblivious that I had more important matters on my mind.
It took the better part of three days before my son would leave the hospital, during which time I all but completely ignored my trusty Treo. To my great surprise, the world survived completely intact. When I was finally back to my normal, out-of-breath and out-of-my-mind self, it struck me like an epiphany: I needed to do this more often! I needed to free myself from the shackles of 21st century servitude and tend to the really important matters of life. Then it dawned on me that I had just discovered Passover.
The Torah paints a rather bleak picture of Jewish existence in ancient Egypt. They were forced into slavery, starved, beaten, had their children taken from them and they were compelled to do “avodat perach,” — ruthless work. Some rabbis explain ruthless work as being descriptive not just of the quality of the labor they performed, but also the quantity. They were not only worked hard, but also constantly, to such an extent that they weren’t even provided the time to allow themselves the luxury of thought. They were too busy to think straight. Worse still, they became accustomed to their pitiful existence, accepted it and thought their miserable lives to be “normal.”
Perhaps, had they been able to contemplate their own terrible conditions, they could have cried out in heartfelt prayer to the Almighty who may have hastened their redemption. Pharaoh violated the very humanity of the Jews by taking away their ability to introspect, the first required step of spiritual growth and self-actualization.
The 21st century is certainly a marvelous time in which to live. Space exploration, computerization, the taming of vicious diseases are all truly amazing feats. But we also suffer more burnout, mental exhaustion, attention deficit disorders and high blood pressure than ever before. They are no doubt the effects of our own hi-tech servitude. Like it or not, we’re ruthlessly on call to someone for something all the time. And, we call it “normal.”
Well, on Passover everything comes to a halt. It begins with the destruction of the chametz, leavened foodstuffs, our daily bread. What could be more symbolic of the mundane, ordinary and routine than a piece of bread? We scour our homes and clear every morsel. The “normal” is simply unacceptable for eight days each year. Then we turn off our cell phones, close our places of business and sit down to a Seder with all the time in the world to discuss the Exodus experience. And, while many of us cringe at the seeming never-ending questions our kids can annoyingly ask the rest of the year, on this night they’re encouraged to ask the four questions, along with any others they might have.
As for the rest of Passover, the simple commandment prohibiting us from eating leavened foods automatically creates a huge paradigm shift for a whole eight days whereby our regular routines go out the window. We are free of fast food restaurants. Free from the mundane obligations and vicissitudes of life. Passover is freedom indeed, from the spirit-stunting routines of modern life.
The fact is that each and every week we’ve simply got to take a day off just to catch our breath. That day is Shabbat. But in order to “clean house” and truly free our inner selves from the overwhelming clutter of life lived in the fast lane, we need the extra-strength, paradigm shifting power of Passover.

Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein is the spiritual leader of Congregation Ishay Yisroel in Lakewood, New Jersey and lectures widely for Aish HaTorah and other organizations.

Empowerment doesn’t come through conquering and enslaving others

Dr. Lisa Aiken, Ph.D.

People want to feel empowered. Many civilizations, including the Egyptians, made that happen by conquering and enslaving others. Julius Caesar’s famous quote, “I came, I saw, I conquered” sums up the mentality that I am powerful if I can subjugate others.

The Torah tells us otherwise. The Hebrew word for Egypt, “mitzrayim,” comes from the root, “metzarim,” which means “narrow places.” A person who thinks that they have to change or demean others is actually stuck in a narrow place. The Egyptians had a pantheon of thousands of gods whom they hoped would enable them to control the world. They worshipped one god that they hoped would make their crops grow well. Another god would make the sun shine. Yet another would guarantee them safe passage into the next world. Life was spent trying to manipulate people and forces outside of themselves in order to get what they wanted.
On Passover, G-d took the Jews out of Egypt and took the Egyptian mentality out of the Jews. Someone who thinks that they will get what they want out of life by manipulating others, competing with others, working the stock market, and constantly thinking about how to make more money is a slave to the machinations of their mind.
The message of Passover is that we can be stuck in a very narrow mindset with negative character traits where we get angry or impatient when we don’t get what we want. We can overly value material things and money at the expense of being honest, ethical and responsive to people in our lives. We can be egocentric and jealous instead of appreciating that each of us is unique and has a unique purpose for being alive.
The purpose of life is not to compare ourselves with others, not to try to get what others have, nor to focus on getting others to do what we want so that we can feel good. Our job is to change our attitudes and ourselves so that we can be free to contribute what we were put here to do.
G-d gave us freedom from Egyptian taskmasters so that we could be free to become better people who care about and appreciate others, who are honest and ethical, and who give more than they take.
An important message of Passover is that my life doesn’t depend on changing those around me. My boss, my spouse, my friends, my children are not my source of happiness and fulfillment. It’s how I treat them that matters. The only person that I can change in this world is me. On Passover, our takeaway message is that with G-d’s help we can be whoever we want to be. It doesn’t depend on anyone else but me.
So the next time you think about who “made me” upset, who “got me angry,” who “ruined my day,” realize that we live in a world where upsets will always happen. The Almighty makes sure that you will have them in order to insure that you grow out of a narrow mindset. In a world that emphasizes rights, Judaism emphasizes what my responsibilities are—to others, to myself, to my Maker. I cannot make sure that others will do what I want, so that leaves it up to me to make sure that my attitude is one of gratitude and appreciation and that my days are filled with doing meaningful things and working on myself to be happy with what I have.
Going out of Egypt wasn’t only 3,300 years ago. We can remember, and do it, every day of our lives. Happy Passover!

Dr. Lisa Aiken has been a psychologist who works with individuals and couples for nearly 40 years. She has authored and co-authored 11 books on a variety of Jewish topics, including Guide for the Romantically Perplexed. She has also given talks to diverse audiences in more than 250 cities on six continents.

Kosher for Passover recipes that are fantastic to make ahead and defrost

Elizabeth Kurtz

These recipes are not only perfect for Passover but have a fantastic make ahead option. I freeze them and defrost them in the refrigerator at least 24 hours before serving. Rewarm them gently or slowly to prevent overcooking. I love the fresh herb component to soup, chicken and meat, no heavy starches or fillers, just wholesome and delicious flavors. The salad has a wonderful dressing and fantastic crunch from the gremolata – don’t skip this! I use it on roasted vegetables and atop a good veal or chicken stew too. And the dessert is just wonderful for any warm day, and definitely not just for Passover.

Albondiga Soup
This exotic Spanish soup is a Passover favorite for my family, precisely because it tastes nothing like Passover. Carrots and zucchinis, fresh cilantro, wonderful rich broth, and flavorful meatballs – albondigas – make a filling first course that your family and guests will love.
Makes 10 servings
Meatballs:
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1/3 cup matzo meal
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
Soup:
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 large zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 avocado, pitted and chopped, for garnish
• 1 lime, cut into wedges, for garnish
• ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
To prepare the meatballs: Combine turkey, matzo meal, cilantro, parsley, cumin, and salt in a medium bowl. Use a wooden spoon to gently stir the mixture until blended. Add egg, mixing just until combined. Form into 1-inch balls.
To prepare the soup: Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broth, water, and tomato paste, stirring to dissolve.
Add carrots; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and add meatballs; cook 15 minutes over medium-low heat. Add zucchini; cook until carrots and zucchini are tender and meatballs are cooked through, an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
Add chopped cilantro, oregano, salt, and pepper. Serve warm with avocado, lime wedges, and a sprinkle of minced cilantro

Chicken Piccata
Serves 6
Pan seared chicken that is super soft and light. I serve this at day time meals because it can be made ahead of time and rewarmed without drying out the chicken. It can be made with thin sliced veal too.
Chicken:
• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• ¼ cup margarine
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup dry white wine
• Juice of 1- 2 lemons
• ½ cup pareve cream or almond milk
• 3 tablespoons capers
For the chicken: Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat the margarine and oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Brown the chicken breasts until golden on both sides, about 3 minutes each side. Remove chicken to a plate.
Add garlic to skillet and soften for 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and wine, and squeeze in juice of the lemon. Whisk the sauce, scraping the bottom of the skillet. Allow sauce to cook and thicken until reduced by about half. Season with a bit more kosher salt and pepper.
Reduce heat to low and whisk in pareve cream. Add capers, and cook for 3 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Place chicken back in pan and heat through with sauce.

Slow Cooked Brisket with Thyme
and Rosemary
Serves 10
Traditional, savory and delicious. This meat is soft enough to cut with a fork. It freezes well but make sure it has come to room temperature before you freeze it.
• One 6 pound brisket
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 onions, cut into big chunks
• 4 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 2-inch chunks
• 3 parsnips, peeled and sliced into 2-inch chunks
• 2½ cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine, Cabernet or Merlot
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Passover soy sauce, optional
• 5 cloves garlic, chopped
• One 4-ounce can tomato paste
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Season the brisket on both sides with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown brisket on both sides for 6 to 8 minutes per side. Set aside.
Add the onions, carrots and parsnips and sauté for a minute until lightly browned. Add the broth, wine, brown sugar, Passover soy sauce, garlic and tomato paste and stir together. Put the brisket on top and place the sprigs of rosemary and thyme around the brisket. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the pot, transfer to the oven and cook until the meat is fork-tender, about 5 hours.
Remove the brisket from the pot and cover it in foil to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the herbs from the sauce and skim off any fat from the top. Slice the meat and return it to the pot to warm up. Sprinkle with the parsley before serving.

Italian Romaine Salad with Tomato-Shallot Dressing and Crunchy Gremolata
Serves 8–10
Make both the dressing and gremolata ahead of time. They both keep for up to a week. The dressing should be stored in the refrigerator and the gremolata can stored in a covered container in a dry pantry. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
• 6 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• ½ cup sliced cucumbers
• 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
• ½ cup pitted olives, Kalamata or green
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
• ½ cup sliced salami, optional
Dressing
• ½ cup grape or cherry tomatoes (approximately 10)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 small shallot, diced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Gremolata
• 1 cup Passover panko crumbs
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ –1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
For the dressing: Using an immersion blender, puree tomatoes, lemon juice, shallot, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. With the blender on, slowly pour in olive oil in a steady stream and blend until emulsified.
For gremolata: In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and add panko and garlic. Cook until garlic is soft and bread crumbs are toasted. Add lemon zest and juice, salt, pepper, and parsley, and cook an additional minute so that all the juice is absorbed and the flavors are incorporated.
To assemble: In a large bowl, mix romaine, cucumbers, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and tomatoes. Toss with desired amount of dressing. Top with gremolata and serve.

Elizabeth Kurtz is the creator of gourmetkoshercooking.com and columnist for the Jerusalem Post, Aish.com, and other national magazines. She is a featured chef on videos for Recipe Box TV on aol.com and yahoo.com. She is passionate about food and entertaining and loves teaching cooking classes. Her first cookbook titled, CELEBRATE, food, family, shabbos is in stores now, on Amazon.com and “celebrates”, 200 original recipes easy enough for everyday and special enough for Shabbos or any holiday.

THE SAFE FOUNDATION, SEPHARDIC BIKUR HOLIM AND SIMHA HEALTH RESPOND

The synthetic opioid fentanyl, a painkiller up to 100 times stronger than morphine designed to treat advanced cancer patients, is flooding the streets in the form of counterfeit prescription pills — and killing people who did not ever intend to ingest the drug.

Prescription medication is frequently expensive, and for those without adequate insurance or access to a doctor, obtaining painkillers or anti-anxiety medications legally can be beyond one’s grasp. In response, many people turn to online marketplaces or under the counter sources such as street dealers. These unwitting customers believe they are purchasing legitimate pills like Oxycodone, Xanax, or Adderall that were manufactured by major pharmaceutical companies. However, what they are oftentimes getting are pills laced with fentanyl, leading to potentially fatal overdoses at an alarming rate.
Unlike regulated medications, these pills are illegally manufactured in China and Mexico and not subject to any quality control. Fentanyl, which is cheap to produce and very highly addictive is mixed in to the formulations of these pills to generate an addictive result. However, when not formulated or produced correctly, a single tablet could contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. To repeat, many people who overdose never meant to take opioids—they simply sought relief for pain, stress, or other medical conditions. Still others who intend to use drugs such as cocaine, heroin and crystal meth also unknowingly ingest fentanyl — again, to fatal effect.
The number one question people ask is – why? What incentive do the producers of these counterfeit pills have to “kill off” their customer base? The answer is they do not intend for their customers to overdose, but fentanyl is so cheap to produce and so highly addictive that the overall majority of people who take it become hooked and continue to purchase the drug – far outweighing lost income to producers resulting from deaths by overdose. It’s just a numbers game – to the producers, lives lost don’t matter.
Tragically, such deaths have occurred recently in our own community and The Safe Foundation (Safe), in partnership with Sephardic Bikur Holim and Simha Health, is leading a campaign to educate Rabbis, community leaders and the public about the grave dangers of taking any medication not prescribed by a physician and obtained from a pharmacist.
On the evening of Saturday, February 22nd, Safe hosted approximately 40 Rabbis and other leaders from the surrounding areas for a discussion about fentanyl and the devastation it has been causing.
During the hour-long program, Safe President James Haddad and Founder/CEO Ike Dweck expressed concern about the issue and stressed that Safe is available to all who could benefit from its clinical services. Rabbi Joey Haber spoke of the importance of open communication among congregations, and how this is not an issue that only affects “drug addicts” – but rather anyone who ingests counterfeit medications not purchased from a pharmacy. Dr. Jason Zimmerman, Medical Director at Hatzalah, expounded on the destructive power of the drug and the increasing frequency which with Hatzalah is encountering cases of fentanyl overdoses.
The overall takeaway?
This issue affects people from all walks of life and no one should ever take medication that wasn’t prescribed for them by their doctor and obtained from their pharmacy.
Since the event, Safe has equipped our Rabbinate with critical information and factual references to share with their congregations in order to bring more attention to this urgent matter. In a community-wide coordinated initiative, many Rabbis provided remarks on this topic during their sermons the following Shabbat. The community owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to our Rabbinate for their efforts in addressing this difficult subject. It is our sincere hope that we do not lose another soul to this deadly scourge.
Anyone wishing to connect to Safe about this effort, to receive free Narcan kits to have on hand in case of an emergency, or to inquire about receiving addiction services, should please call 718-GET-SAFE.

Regarding detection, all should be aware of symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness
• Slow or no breathing
• Blue or grayish skin, lips, or fingernails
• Pinpoint pupils
  As for responding, the following are the essential instructions:
• Call 911 Immediately – Emergency responders can administer life-saving treatment.
• Administer Naloxone (Narcan) – This medication can reverse an opioid overdose and is available without a prescription in many pharmacies.
• Perform Rescue Breathing & CPR – If the person is not breathing, provide rescue breaths and chest compressions until help arrives.
• Stay with the Person – Overdoses can reoccur even after Narcan is administered, so continued monitoring is crucial.

Sarina Roffé

Each year we pray at Passover and say “next year in Jerusalem.” It seems these words echo in our hearts and for those who have been to Israel, the land beckons us. We feel the earth when we plant a tree. We feel connected when we pray at the Western Wall. We see the views of the hills of Jerusalem and wish we were there. The freedom to be Jewish in today’s world is liberty in unimaginable ways.

Israel called to Dr. Solomon and Louise Suede and in their hearts, they knew they wanted to live in Israel and raise their family there. After Solomon completed his medical training, the couple made Aliyah to Israel in August 2023 with their first three children, thinking they would take the first year to move around and decide where they wanted to settle and live. Then the October 7 invasion by Hamas happened and the world changed, especially for Israelis. While the initial plan had to be modified, Louise and Solomon love Israel, adapted and love the child friendly lifestyle.
Louise Sutton and Solomon Suede grew up in the community, went to yeshiva and had a great life in Brooklyn with loving families. High school sweethearts who met at Yeshiva of Flatbush, they each pursued higher education and careers.
The third of six children of Ike and Celia Sutton, Louise pursued a degree in psychology. For Solomon, one of four children of Charles and Diane Suede, it was a medical career as a pediatrician. Louise and Solomon married a year before he started medical school, so they lived upstate as he filled some of the requirements needed to be licensed.
Back in Brooklyn, Solomon completed his residency at Maimonides Hospital and became a Board Certified Pediatrician. Louise loved having playgroups in her home for preschoolers as she grew her family of four daughters. But their hearts tugged at them to go to Israel.
“I felt I belonged in Israel. Every prayer is about Jerusalem and I felt I belonged in the home of the Jewish people,” said Louise. “So after Solomon completed his residency, it was the perfect time to try and move. We went first to Ranana where there was a Syrian community. Our plan was to try different places until we decided where to settle. The Ranana community was helpful with all aspects of our lives and helped us make a smooth transition. There are many Syrian families here and we have amazing friends.”
Then October 7 attacks changed their plan. Louise was expecting their fourth daughter and both sets of parents were worried so the couple returned to the United States. After three months and no end to the war in sight, they returned to Israel. Solomon was working on his license to practice medicine in Israel. He works at Schneider Hospital and in a private practice pediatric office as well.
Louise describes how different the values and lifestyle are in Israel. “In Israel, husbands and wives share all responsibilities. In most homes, both work. But they share in shopping, cleaning, cooking, parent-teacher conferences, doing laundry, and caring for their children. It’s a very different philosophy of raising a family.”
Louise loves how the small nation is so child friendly. “You go to the mall and there is a play area for kids. And everything is at the mall. The supermarket, pharmacy, dentist, doctor’s offices, and clothing stores. At night, you see children out with their parents in the souk or in a park, and maybe a baby is sleeping in a stroller, but they are out.”
The couple is still deciding where they will settle. “We want to be in a place where we have views, so we are up in the air, and in transition, as we are figuring out where we want to settle.”
Louise shared some experiences she thought were incredible. One time when she was in the supermarket, Louise saw a father holding an infant in his arms, groceries in stroller and two other kids in tow. Another time, she saw a woman holding an infant in a baby carrier and under the baby carrier was a gun wrapped around her waist. Jugglers are at the traffic lights, entertaining you and asking for money.
The couple loves the schools in Israel. Her older two children are in the public school system which begins at age three. Her third child is in a Gan, or preschool operated by Chabad. Their one-year-old is home with Louise. Named Lyelle Eden, after two people who lost their lives due to the October 7 invasion, Louise paid her respects to the family and brought her daughter. The father was touched that Lyelle Eden was named for his daughter.
“We have a center here called Mercaz Ketantanim, for babies and every day they have Mommy and Me and other activities for babies. We love living here,” she said. Louise noted that children are adaptable and they adjusted easily to life in Israel. While they didn’t know any Hebrew, now they play in Hebrew and her three-year-old even thinks in Hebrew.
Louise says her Hebrew is coming along but she is not yet fluent. While both Solomon and Louise received a good base of Hebrew from their yeshiva education, each had a lot to learn about dialect and speaking everyday Hebrew.
“My Hebrew is not great. My grocery store Hebrew is pretty good now. You learn. School Hebrew, butcher Hebrew, not immersion, so I use Google translate. I needed to learn the local dialect. Solomon had to learn medical Hebrew on the job.”
Louise and Solomon keep connected with their families in Brooklyn through frequent FaceTime sessions. They love everything from the Amazon delivery man who comes with a big smile and throws them blessings. “It’s such a difference from America. The same Jewish Amazon delivery guy always and he is a character who shows us what it is to be in Israel.”

A Lost Community Walks Through Its History

In February 2025, a remarkable event unfolded in Damascus: members of Syria’s Jewish diaspora returned to their ancestral homeland after decades in exile. Led by Rabbi Yosef Hamra and his son Henry, this delegation sought to reconnect with their roots and assess the state of Jewish heritage sites in the Syrian capital.

The Jewish presence in Syria dates back over 2,500 years, beginning with the Assyrian exile in 722 BCE, when Jews from the Kingdom of Israel were deported to various parts of the Assyrian Empire, including Syria. Another significant wave of Jewish settlement followed the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE, when Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed the First Temple, leading many Jews to settle in cities such as Damascus and Aleppo. By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Syria had thriving Jewish communities, as noted by the historian Josephus, who described large Jewish populations in Damascus, Antioch, and other cities. In 1170, the Jewish traveler and scholar Benjamin of Tudela visited Damascus and recorded the presence of 10,000 Jews, highlighting their organized community and economic influence. The 1492 Spanish Expulsion brought Sephardic Jews to Syria, particularly Aleppo and Damascus, further enriching Jewish life and establishing these cities as key centers of Jewish scholarship and trade in the Middle East.
For the Hamra family, returning to Damascus was deeply personal. Rabbi Yosef Hamra dedicated over 40 years of his life to serving the Jewish community of Damascus in multiple roles—as a rabbi, hazan, mohel, shochet, sofer, schoolteacher, and principal—until the day they left Syria. Even after leaving, he has continued to serve the community to this day. In 1992, after years of restrictive policies under President Hafez al-Assad, the Chief Rabbi of the Syrian Community, Rabbi Abraham Hamra A”H, met with Assad and secured permission for the Jewish community to leave the country without restrictions. This marked the beginning of a mass exodus of Syrian Jews, reducing the once-thriving community in Damascus to fewer than ten individuals. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 created a rare window of opportunity, prompting the Hamras to return and reconnect with their roots.
Stepping onto Syrian soil after so many years was both emotional and bittersweet for the delegation. They walked through the familiar yet changed streets of the Old City, greeted by the sights and sounds of a Damascus that had endured years of conflict. Though much had transformed, remnants of Jewish history still stood—some preserved, others in ruins. The Jobar Synagogue, once a central place of worship and a symbol of Jewish presence in Syria, had been reduced to rubble, a casualty of war. The Al-Faranj Synagogue, though still standing, bore the scars of neglect. Even more heartbreaking was the state of the Jewish cemetery, which had been overtaken by garbage and debris, with crumbling tombstones and displaced grave markers scattered among the rubble. The sacred resting place of generations had become an unkempt wasteland, its sanctity eroded by years of disregard. The delegation also learned that decades earlier, a highway had been built through the cemetery, relocating graves and damaging many tombstones. For the visitors, seeing such desecration was a painful reminder of how history can be forgotten when there are no caretakers left to protect it.
As they arrived at the Al-Faranj Synagogue, stepping through its doors for the first time in over 30 years—where Rabbi Yosef Hamra and his late brother, Rabbi Abraham Hamra A”H, had once served as hazanim—he simply whispered, ‘Wow, wow, wow.’ The moment was overwhelming. Dust-covered pews lined the walls beneath peeling paint. Ancient prayer books, hundreds of years old, lay untouched under a discarded prayer shawl. Henry Hamra, now a cantor, stood in the same space where his father had once led prayers. His voice trembled as he recalled, “I remember my father, the last day that we—before we left here, he was praying, crying when he was praying the last prayer over here.”
The delegation had hoped to hold a formal Jewish prayer service at the synagogue—the first in decades. But Jewish law requires ten adult Jewish males for a minyan, and even with some of the few remaining Syrian Jews, there were not enough. Instead, Rabbi Yosef and his son stood together and recited personal prayers, filling the silent sanctuary with the echoes of their voices, just as they had decades before.
Despite the destruction and loss, the returning Jews were met with warmth. Many locals, both Muslim and Christian, remembered their Jewish neighbors and shared stories of coexistence. Walking through the Jewish quarter, they ran into former neighbors from 30 years ago who greeted them with open arms. The Syrian government also signaled its willingness to welcome back members of the Jewish diaspora, with one official telling the delegation, “This is their home, and the government will help restore property and citizenship.”
During their visit, the delegation met with Syrian officials to discuss the preservation of Jewish heritage. With the country in the early stages of rebuilding, the fate of religious and cultural sites remained uncertain. The government expressed its commitment to protecting these landmarks, but the challenges were immense. Years of war had not only destroyed buildings but had also displaced entire communities, making large-scale restoration difficult. Some of the visiting Jews expressed interest in supporting these efforts, believing that even if the Jewish community in Syria would not return in significant numbers, its 2,500-year-old legacy must be preserved.
For Rabbi Yosef and Henry, this visit was about more than history—it was about the future. Would there ever be a Jewish revival in Syria? Could young Jews, raised in countries like the U.S. and Israel, find a way to stay connected to their Syrian roots? These were difficult questions with no immediate answers. As Henry reflected on their visit, he remarked, “This city is still part of who we are, no matter where we live. We may not return permanently, but we can never forget where we came from.”
Upon returning to New York, Henry was frequently asked what he hoped to achieve from the trip. His response was clear: “My goal is to preserve history. I want Jews from around the world to come visit these holy places. I want people to be able to visit the family plots of their parents, grandparents, and past generations. Just as people visit the graves of great rabbis in Israel, Uman, and Morocco, so too should they visit the ancient synagogues and the holy graves of revered Syrian rabbis. Most notably, the great Kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital is buried here.”
The next trip to Damascus is already being planned for the end of April 2025. Rabbi Chaim Vital’s yahrzeit falls on the 30th of Nisan, which this year corresponds to April 28, 2025, and there are plans to visit his grave on that day. If you are interested in joining this trip or getting involved in the restoration and preservation of Jewish sites in Damascus, please email Henry Hamra at HenryHamra@gmail.com.

Linda Argalgi Sadacka

Some moments in life are simply meant to be—doors open, paths cross, and suddenly, what was once just an idea becomes a mission. That’s exactly how this event came to life.
It all started in Miami, at a restaurant where, by sheer chance—or, more accurately, divine intervention—I met David Gopin, the president of Hagiborim. A mutual friend, with a conviction that made us listen, said, “You two have to meet.” And she was right. That conversation sparked something bigger than either of us could have imagined. When I arrived in New York, I understood why.
As the founder and president of Chasdei David, formerly known as Moms on a Mitzvah, I have always believed in the power of community action. This chance meeting led to a collaboration that culminated in an extraordinary event.

A Mission in Action
On February 18, 2025, Hagiborim – Heroes of Israel, in collaboration with Chasdei David, our very own homegrown community organization, hosted an extraordinary gathering in New York City. Generously and fully sponsored by Albert Allaham, the evening was dedicated to honoring the orphans of October 7, 2023, and the families of fallen IDF soldiers. More than just a dinner, this event was a powerful statement of solidarity—an embrace from a community determined to remind these young heroes that they are not alone.

A Night of Warmth and Connection
Guests were welcomed into Reserve Cut’s largest private dining room, where round tables adorned with crisp white tablecloths set an elegant yet intimate tone. A stunning display of sushi and refreshments awaited them, carefully prepared to perfection. Each guest found their seat marked with a personalized menu, acknowledging them by name and reinforcing their importance as true ‘Hagiborim’—heroes.
Reflecting on the evening’s impact, one of the young attendees expressed heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you so much, everyone. It was truly amazing. The gifts you brought us were timeless, and we really enjoyed the restaurant—it was top-notch.”
The gathering fostered deep and meaningful connections. Israeli children bonded naturally with members of the local community, particularly among boys of similar ages, forming friendships that would last long after the evening had ended.
Albert Allaham, known for his generosity and dedication to the Jewish people, spoke about the significance of the event: “Tonight was about making these children feel loved, appreciated, and truly special. It was my honor and privilege to host these remarkable children. Their strength inspires all of us.”

A Celebration of Resilience
Throughout the evening, moving speeches were delivered by community leaders and participants, including Isaac Ash, Roy Murad, Joey Betesh, and Albert Allaham himself. The atmosphere was a blend of solemn reflection and hopeful optimism, with moments of deep emotion as children bravely shared their stories of loss and resilience.
One guest shared the profound impact of the night: “I have no words to describe how much I enjoyed it, really. I’m still so happy about it, even days later. The restaurant was incredible, the food was of the highest quality, and the company was just perfect. Everything you arranged was wonderful. I’m truly grateful that the good people helping us are you. Thank you so much—I wouldn’t have found anything like this with anyone else. Really, I have no words to express how much I appreciate you. I love you all, and thank you so much for everything.”
A highlight of the evening was a FaceTime session with world-renowned Jewish singer Yaakov Shwekey, filling the room with music, joy, and an overwhelming sense of togetherness.

A Lasting Impact
As the evening drew to a close, Albert Allaham, Isaac Ash, and Joey Betesh led a special moment of generosity, presenting each orphan with a custom Puma bag filled with clothing and other meaningful gifts. These tokens of care, handed over personally by community children, symbolized the bonds of friendship and ongoing support.
One attendee recounted the unforgettable experience: “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the hosts in New York. We started at the restaurant with out-of-this-world food—truly delicious steaks, and all the dishes were excellent. The people welcomed us warmly, honoring our presence as we did theirs. They showed us great respect, and I genuinely felt the love among everyone. The gifts were absolutely amazing; you truly brought us joy. After dinner, we had the unforgettable experience of riding in the Maybach with Albert. It was such a delight, joking around together in the Maybach. Wow, what an incredible evening.”
However, the generosity did not end there. Inspired by the evening, Albert Allaham personally accompanied the group to The Ohel (Lubavitcher Rebbes’ resting place), ensuring their visit concluded with a spiritually uplifting experience before their departure to Washington, D.C., the following day.
A Community That Cares
The evening at Reserve Cut was more than just a gathering—it was a powerful declaration of unwavering support, resilience, and unity. In a world that too often moves on from tragedy, forgetting the faces behind the headlines, this community stood firm, refusing to let these children and families face their pain alone.
The events of October 7, 2023, were not just an attack on Israel but an assault on civilization itself. The children and families honored that night are not just victims—they are living testaments to the strength of the Jewish people. They are the future, and they are not forgotten.
Albert Allaham’s generosity in fully sponsoring this evening was more than just an act of charity—it was a bold statement. It said, “We stand with you. Your pain is our pain. Your fight is our fight. And no matter what, you will never be abandoned.”
As global anti-Semitism rises and Israel continues to battle for its survival, this night was a reminder of something far greater: The Jewish people do not bend, do not break, and do not back down. When the world turns its back, the Jewish community steps forward, hand in hand, committed to ensuring that these young heroes are not just honored for one night—but uplifted, protected, and supported for a lifetime.
This is what true leadership looks like. This is what real strength is. And this is how we win.

Linda Argalgi Sadacka is a writer, political strategist, community organizer, and Jewish activist dedicated to combating antisemitism. A delegate for the ZOA in the WZO elections, she works to protect Jewish interests worldwide. Known for her impactful advocacy, media presence, and writing, she actively mobilizes communities and fights for Israel.

Magen David Yeshivah High School is proud to announce the introduction of the Haber/Freilich Bloomberg Program, a pioneering initiative designed to provide students with hands-on training on the Bloomberg terminal. This unique program equips students with a valuable skill set, setting them apart in the competitive global finance industry.

The Bloomberg terminal is a critical component of the daily functioning of professionals in the finance industry. Over 350,000 professionals working in front-office roles in hedge funds, private equity funds, investment banks, and investment management firms use Bloomberg, which provides an enormous amount of detailed, immediately available financial markets and company-specific information that helps professionals make investment decisions.
By mastering the Bloomberg terminal, students acquire a highly sought-after skill, which is rarely found at the high school level. This expertise gives them a significant advantage in the job market, enabling them to stand out in the competitive global finance industry.
This exclusive Bloomberg Program, led by Mr. Stan Antas, is a testament to Magen David Yeshivah High School’s commitment to providing students with innovative and relevant educational experiences. By empowering students with cutting-edge financial skills, the school is preparing the next generation of financial leaders to succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive global economy.

Something for Everyone

Purim at DSN consisted of extraordinary celebrations that brought fun, laughter, and meaningful connections to community members of all ages. The holiday festivities spanned multiple events, each tailored to a different age group, ensuring that everyone had a chance to partake in the joyous spirit of Purim.

On Wednesday, March 12th, DSN, in collaboration with SBH, hosted an unforgettable Purim celebration for the seniors. This year’s theme was a vibrant Mexican fiesta, complete with an energetic Mariachi band and an authentic Mexican feast catered by PKS. The event was filled with warmth and happiness as seniors enjoyed lively music, delicious food, and heartfelt connections. To make the celebration even more special, each senior received a beautifully curated Mishloach Manot, generously provided by the DSN High School Hesed Program and SBH Youth.
DSN’s Senior Program Directors Vicky Schreiber and Stephanie Massry shared their enthusiasm for leading the Senior program year-round. “Days like this are heartwarming. It is our profound privilege to work alongside seniors, learning from their wisdom and experiences and supporting them as they age, thrive, and continue to make meaningful connections and contributions to our community.”
Purim’s festivities extended to DSN’s youngest participants through engaging and age-appropriate programs. At DSN’s Sunday program, nursery and kindergarten children were treated to a day of fun with face painting and creative crafts. Meanwhile, students in grades 1-4 participated in a special Hesed Day, engaging in acts of kindness including baking Hamantaschen for seniors, preparing Mishloach Manot, and crafting heartfelt cards for soldiers in Israel. The 5th grade girls enjoyed a beracha party with Ellen Sutton, where they organized Mishloah Manot packages for Seniors. These activities instilled a deep sense of compassion and connection within the younger generation.
On Sunday March, 9, over 1000 people attended the SBH Purim Carnival at DSN. There were inflatables, tables of hesed and a mad science show. Additionally, there was an unbelievable auction that raffled off many great things, one of them being a kitchen. The carnival and auction was put together by Marsha Tobias, who volunteers her time every year to make this dream a reality. DSN’s Youth Program Director Frieda Shamah was overwhelmed. “There’s nothing like the community coming together for an amazing event like the SBH Purim Carnival at DSN! The spirit of Purim comes alive as we see the kids dressed up and full of excitement, making it a truly special celebration.”
A delightful and heartwarming event, the Mother-Child Hamantaschen Decorating at the DSN Beach Club, was a highlight of the Purim celebrations. Jeli’s Cafe supplied fresh Hamantaschen, which children excitedly dipped and decorated with an assortment of sprinkles and toppings, all while enjoying lively music. The event fostered beautiful multi-generational bonding as mothers, grandmothers, and children came together to celebrate the holiday. DSN member and mother Gila Sutton was ecstatic. “This was our favorite DSN event!” Program Director Caleigh Silvera was overjoyed to see so many families enjoying the experience, emphasizing that the event was a resounding success.
Purim is a holiday filled with joy, fun, and the celebration of Queen Esther’s bravery and Mordechai’s steadfastness in saving the Jewish people, while Hashem guided the events through hidden miracles. DSN ensured that the Jersey Shore community had ample opportunities to celebrate, create lasting memories, and participate in elevated experiences that honored the true spirit of the holiday. Through music, food, creativity, and acts of kindness, this Purim was truly one to remember.
DSN’s Executive Director, Sammy Sitt, was thankful. “Our staff and volunteers did it again! They pulled off multiple events in the same week for Purim. It’s a credit to their passion and relentless efforts, which as they keep raising the bar on what DSN provides our community. May Hashem continue to bless DSN to keep growing and growing!”

The SCF is happy to report that after an almost 9-year lobbying campaign, meaningful sections of the recently enacted City of Yes rezoning program included many special considerations for new and remodeled houses in our neighborhoods.
As a founding member of the Flatbush Neighborhood Improvement Coalition (FNIC), the SCF worked together with the FJCC and others to bring this major accomplishment to fruition.
The new regulations provide (among others):
(In our neighborhoods only – Southern Brooklyn–not City-wide)

• Enhanced Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0
• Rear Yard depths reduced from 30 feet to 20 feet.
• Increases in Lot Coverage
• Reduction of certain Side Yard requirements
• Increase in the perimeter side wall height that allows for a 3-4 step-up front porch/entry level vs.
  the previous 1-2 step-up front porch/entry level.
  These enhancements were designed to eliminate the long paperwork delays of a year or more and expenditures of up to $100,000 for legal and filing fees for Special Permits and Variances.
  The SCF wishes to extend its deep gratitude to Mayor Eric Adams, his administration, and the Dept. of City Planning Commissioner, Dan Garodnik.
  Their combined efforts via more than a dozen meetings, whether they were at City Hall, at the Dept. of City Planning or on Zoom or by phone went way above and beyond our expectations.
  We are also grateful to Joey Shamie for his untiring efforts re: this initiative and for his involvement in so many other Community-wide initiatives.
  This historic accomplishment is but one of many successes that the SCF has achieved in its 15-plus years of advocating for the needs of our Community. q